Magnetic valve



Aug 4, 1942. H. A. MANTZ R. 22,155

' MAGNETIC VALVE original Filed .Jan. 8, 1957 Reissued Aug. 4, 1942MAGNETIQ VALVE liar-old A. Manta, Mllwau kee, Wis assignor to MilwaukeeGas Specialty mpany, Milwaukee, Wia, a corp ration. Wisconsin OriginalNo. 2,187,834, dated January 23, 1940, Serial No. 182,669, December 31,1937, which is a division of. Serial No. 119,557, January 8, 1937,1101!Patent No. 2,271,506, dated January 27,1942. Applies 1941, Serial No.411,941

11 Claims. (Cl. 137-13 This invention relates to thermo-electric safetydevices, and more particularly is directed to such devices employed inconnection with gas burner igniting apparatus'lfor use in heatingappliances such as. hot water heaters, ranges, and similar apparatus.

The present application, which is a division of my copending applicationSerial No. 119,557, filed January 8, 1937, is directed particularly tothe magnetic valve.

In, the copending application of John Hf Thornbery and myself, SerialNo. 743,382, filed September 10,1934, there is disclosed a safety deviceof the type in which the valve controlling the supplyof fuel to the mainburner can be manually held open when the pilot flame has beenextinguished. In some situations this may be undesirable, since a largeaccumulation of-gas may collect in the burner chamber before the pilotflame is ignited, with resulting hazards of explosion.

The present invention contemplates a mechanism in which the main valvemember is snapped closed whenever the pilot burner is extinguished,-.and cannot be moved to openposition until the pilot burner is againignited. This precludes any attempt to hold the valve open while thepilot burner is extinguished.

In conjunction with this feature, the present invention includes meansfor by-passing a certain quantity of fuel through or around the valvewhile it is in closed position to supply the pilot burner during themanual resetting operation.

. Provision is made for directing the by-pas'sed gas'to the pilot burnerthrough a connection which also serves as one conductor for thethermocouple formed at and responsive to the heat of the pilot burner. I

As one important advantage of the present construction I provide athermocouple combined with a pilot burner, the connection from thethermocouple to the safety device in turn forming the supply passagefrom the fuel supply line to the pilot head, which is supported solelyby this connection.

In addition, the combined thermocouple and pilot head are connected tothe safety device through a quick detachable connection which allowsrapid and easy assembly without the necessity of terminal lugs, solderconnections or the like.

tion resides in the provision of a magnet frame which may be of round,circular, or of any-other tion for reissue November 5,

for reciprocatory movement in the housing of the safety device. Themagnet frame assembly and resetting mechanism is provided with meetingspring means whereby, upon imparting the resetting movement to themagnet frame, the secondary or by-pass valve means is opened while themain safety valve remains closed, and upon energization of theelectromagnet by the thermoelectric current the valve is held to themagnet "frame and the valve and magnet frame are conjointly moved intovalve opened positiomthe bypass valve to the pilot burner beingsimultane ously closed. y

Another important advantage of the present invention is that the safetydevice may be mounted in any position in the fuel supply line, and thevalve mechanism, magnet frame and resetting mechanism remain fullyoperative regardless of the position in which the device is mounted.

Still another advantage of the present invention is the use of thehousing of the device itself as the ground connection for one side ofthe electromagnetic coil, whereby the combined thermocouple and pilotburner has one side thereof directly grounded to-the housing, 'while theother side thereof is connected through an insulated and closedconductor to the coil, this conductor at the same time forming a gassupply passage to the pilot burner from the valve seat. 1

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be moreapparent from the follow ing detailed description which, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, will disclose to thoseskilled in the art the particular construction and operation of apreferred formof the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the application of the presentinvention to heating apparatus:

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the device of the present inventioincluding the combinedt thermocouple and pilot head construction;

Figure 3 shows a modified manner of connecting the thermocouple to thedevice; and

Figure 4 shows a still further modified arrangement.

Still another advantage of the present inven- Referring now in detail tothe drawing, in Figure 1 I have shown the main fuel supply line I,

having the safety device I mounted therein, and communicating throughthe conduit 1 from the outlet side of the safety device to a fuel supplymanifold or the like indicated at 8, provided with suitable or preferredtype, and which'is mounted the usual gas cook I, which may be eithermanthe packing carried in the upper 2 e ually or automatically operated,for delivering fuel under pressure to the main burner l6. 1

The burner I6 is preferably ignited by means of a lighter tube I! whichextends into the torch head l3 receiving the pilot head indicatedgenerally at l4. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1,the device has been shown and applied to a gas range in which a numberof burners l6 may be mounted symmetrically about the torch head l3, eachbeing supplied with a lighter tube l2 whereby'gas from the main burnerI6 is transmitted through an auxiliary port and the tube'I2 to the pilotburner, is there ignited and flash back to the burner to ignite the mainburner p ts. However, it is to be understood that the torch head I3 andlighter tubes l2 may be eliminated. and in such case the pilot burner l4may be disposed directly adjacent the main burner 16, where only asingle burner is employed, such as in hot water heaters or other typesat heating apparatus.

Considering now in detail the specific construction illustrated asshowing one form of the pres ent invention, inFigure 2 I have provided asafety device comprising the main valve body I 5, provided with theinlet chamber l6 and with the outlet chamber I1. Intermediate thesechamhers there is provided the partition l6 forming the valve seat l6defining the opening through which communication is eflected between theinlet and outlet chambers.

Mounted in any suitable manner upon the up- .per portion of thevalv'ebody I! is a housing 26,- which may be bolted thereto as indicated bythe cap screws 22, or may be secured thereto in any other suitable ordesired manner. Interposed between the housing 26, which is preferablyof inverted cup-shape, and the annular shoulder 26 of the valve body I6is a gasket member 24 which seals the surfaces that are c r pedtogether,-and is provided with an axially extend ing flange portion 24'at its inner periphery.

Mounted in the passage formed between the valve body l6 and the housing26 is a magnet frame member 26, having the electromagnetic coil 26carried therein, the coil 26 having one municates with the passageway 42above the valve stem head 41. The member 31 is also provided with asecond axially offset laterally extending passageway 46 which, adjacentits outer end, communicates through the passageway 46' directed axiallyof the valve member and through which terminal member is provided withan axicessed to receive one end of the spring 66,

terminal thereof grounded to the housing 26 as 4 indicated at 21 throughthe conductor 26, and having its opposite terminal connected through,

conductor 26 to a terminal stud 36 which is disposed in insulatedrelation to the housing by being carried within the insulating bushing"32.

The magnet frame 25 is provided with a. central axialLvextending recess33, which is adapted "to receive a spring member 34 biased at one andagainst the inner end of the recess, and at its opposite end bearingagainst the turned over edge 36 of the projectingstem portion 36 ofvalvemember 31, the member 31 in turn carrying at its lower base the leathervalve seatingmember 36 adapted to have engagement with the valve seatl6. The leather seating member is held in po-- sition by the retainingwasher or disc 36, which in turn is secured to the member 31 by means ofthe threaded plug 46 extending into the open end of therecess 42 formedin the member. v

A suitable valve stem 43 is carried within the cess 42.

The member :1 is provided with a laterally extending port 46, whichextends into and, com- "recess 42 of the member 31, and" normally isally outwardly directed recess 66 which opensoutwardly through thethreaded boss portion 61 .extending laterally from the side of thehousing 26.

cup-shaped member 66 andthe annular plate member 62, an armature-likevalve member which is movable toward and away from the lower end of, themagnet frame 26, having sliding movement guided by the axially extendingflange portion 24 of the gasket 24. Thus, when the coil 26 isdeenergized, the spring 34 urges the armature, consisting of the members66, 62 and 31, downwardly away from the lower end of the magnet frame 26and into engagement with the valve seat l6.

The magnetirame 26 is normally retained in position within the safetydevice by means of the spindle member 66,-which has the head portion 66engaged within the recess 33 of the magnet frame, and which extendsupwardly and carries at its outer end the resetting button 61 which isthreaded to the end of the spindle 66 and is reopposite end of thespring 66 bearing against packing 66 carried within the recessed portion16 or extending downwardly into the housing 26 and formed integraltherewith. The spring 66 normally urges the button 61 outwardly of thehousing 26, and thereby urges the spindle 66 upwardly, holding themagnet frame 26 against the lower end of the wall portion 12 of thehousing which defines the recess 16.

Considering, now in detail the pilot bumer'.

construction, this comprises an outer tubular member 66 which isprovided with relatively large open ports 62 through which pilot flames66 are adapted to project, as indicated diagrammatb cally in Figure 2,and which is joined to an inner tubular member 64, there being a weldedJunction between these two members, as indicated at 66, forming athermocouple junction disposed like member 62 which is provided withopenings 63 therein foradmitting air into the space between the members66 and 64, this air merging with the gas issuing from the-ports 66 topro- The valve member 31 forms, together with the is threaded over thethreaded extension I] of the housing 20, and thereby completes aconnection to the grounded terminal 21 from one side of thengilgt llieother side of thethermocouple circiiitiitei'ifls 'ffiim the innertubular member 04 and the metal conduit member Bl,

within the insulating sleeve 44, to the recess ll formed in the terminalbushing 20. This makes metallic contact through the-bushing II with theconductor." leading from the other side of the magnetic coil 20. I

1 An insulating disc 98 is, disposed about the projecting end of theconduit 88 within the thimble '8, and a wedge-shaped member preferablyof ductile metal, is disposed over the proiecting end of the conduit llwhereby, upon threading of the thimble 96 upon the extension 51, thewedge member 88 is wedged, together with the projecting end of theconduit 88, into the recess 54 of the thimble Ifl,'and consequentlyforms a positive and gas tight electrical connection therewith which is.insulated from the metal tube 95 and from the supporting sleeve I00dissupply is closed ofl due to the fact that the spring 45 retains thevalve stem 43 in position with the head 41 thereof pressed against thevalve seat 44 so that no gas may flow from the tween the conduit 88 andthe bushing 30 may gized to holdthe armature, including the valve member31, to the magnet frame against the resistance of the spring 34. This isdue to the fact that the heat of the pilot flame acting on weldedJunction 85 creates a current flow between the metal tube 95 and thehollow conduit BI which, in turn, creates a flow of current through thecoil 28 suiflcient to magnetize the magnet frame 2! and create anattractive force on the valve member 31 suflicient to hold it againstthe magnet frame. Consider now that the pilot flame is accidentallyextinguished. The thermocouple junction rapidly cools and therebydeenergizes the coil 26. The spring I4 thereupon become's active andsnaps the valve member 31 downwardly into engagement with the valve seatIt.

This results in relative sliding engagement of the cup-shaped member 80with respect to the let chamber l1, and also closing off the fuel supplyto the pilot burner. This latter fuel inlet chamber I! through thepassageways 4i and 48 to the passageway ll.

when it is desired to either ignite the main burner or to reignite thepilot burner, the resetting button is manually pushed downwardly.

This results in moving the spindle 65 downwardly I with respect to themagnet frame 25, and the magnet frame thereby slides downwardly within"cation between the passageways 48 and 48 formed in the valve member 31.

As a result; the gas which is under pressure in the inlet chamber I 8flows through the passageways 46 and 48 and thence through the axiallyextending passageway 49 into the passageway 50 formed in the valve seatIt. From the passageway ill, this gas flows upwardly through passageways52 and I4 and into the recess 58 in the terminal bushing 30. From thisrecess, gas is passed through the hollow conductor II to the interior ofthe tubular member 84, from which it escapes through ports 86 and mixeswith air introduced into the interior of the tubular member 80, and canbe ignited as it issues with the. air from the ports 82. The resultingpilot flames serve-to energize the thermocouple, creating a currentwhich in turn energizes the coil 26 .and causes the armature formed bythe members 80, 62 and I! of the valve construction to be heldpositively against the lower end of the frame 25 by magnetic attraction.As a result, when the reset button 61 is released,- the spring 68 movesthe button 81 and spindle l5 upwardly, which in turn, through the headend 88 of the spindle 85, moves the frame 25 upwardly and consequentlymoves the valve member therewith, the two being held in magneticattraction. This opens the valve, and the gas may then flow from theinlet chamber I6 through the valve seat is into the outlet chamber I1and thence to the main burner or burners. At the same time, suflicientgas is still supplied through the port ill in the valve seat to maintainthe pilot burner l4 ignited, and consequently retain; the valve memberin raised position against the lower end of the magnet frame 25. Uponany accidental extinguishment of the pilot burner, the magnet isimmediately deenergized, and the spring 34 consequently forces the valvemember down into engagement with the valve seat, thereby shutting offflow of fuel to either the pilot burner or the main burner.

In Figure 3 I have shown a modified structure, in which the coil 28 ofthe magnet is connected to the two terminals of the thermocouplejunction, and is not grounded on the housing In this embodiment of theinvention, the upper housing of the safety device is indicated at H0,and is connected to the valve body housing H2 through the threadedsleeve I l3 carried by the housing ii. A suitable bushing H4 is securedin the side wall of the housing I II, and is adapted to receive, on itsinner end, the terminal H5 of a conductor lit leading to one side-of thecoil 28.

fi lgure 2, and no further description of Thejother eide'of'the em a isconnected through conductor in andterminal m to a terminal bushing lliwhicl i is insulated within the bushing ill bythe insulating sleeve Ill.

The thermocouple connection leading from the pilot burnerhandconsistingof the outer metallic tube II, the thimble II which threads over thebushing m to eiIect electrical connection from the'tube II through thethimble ll and bushing Ill with conductor III, and the inner hollowconductor I22, extends into the terminal bushing II! and is wedgedtherein insubstantially the same manner as described in connection withFigures. At the same time,,gas for the pilot burner is supplied to portsIII and Ill in the housings H2 and Ill. respectively, to'the interiorof'the terminal bushing Ill, and thence without opening the main valveuntil use time as the pilot burner has been ignited'and a sufiiclentcuirent'hasbeen generated to allow actuation oi' magnet. Further, I havepmvided means for rapidly attaching and disconthe thermocouple and pilothurner nectio'ns', which facilitates assembly of the vice, and insureseasy replacement or repair through the hollow conductor Iii to the pilot1 burner. Suitable insulatingsleeve means III is .prov'ided between theouter metallic tube II and theinne'r hollow metallic conductor III. The

details of the manner in which the thermocouple and burner connectionscan be quickly coupled and disconnected from thehousing structure isbelieved apparent from the drawing, when considered in conjunction withthe description of this particular. manner of assembly as set forth inconnection with Figure 2.

In Figure 4 I have shown a still fled construction, in which the supplyfor the pilot burner is'separated from the connection to thethermocouple Junction. In this embodi- 'ment'oi the invention, the valvebody is indicated at III, while the housing for the magnet frameandreset mechanism is'indicated at iii, the two 1 being securedtogetherwith the gasket III interposed therebetween in any desired manner. Asilitable port III. is formed in the valve body further i case ofdamage, or for inspection.

I am aware that .variousmodifications may be I.

made in details of and particular design, and intend that theillustrated embodiment of the invention be considered for purposes ofillustration only as one form ,of the invention. I do not intend tolimit my invention to the exact details shown, but only insofar I asdefined by the scope and spirit pended claims.-

. 1. A safety device for e fuel supply line .includv l ing a'valve body,a valve seat therein, a valve engageable with said seat and having: anarms ture, magnetic means comprising a magnet frame andan energizingcoil for said magnet frame bothreciprocably mounted with respect to saidvalve, primary spring means normally urging said magnetic means awayfrom said seat, secondary spring means biased between said magneticmeans and said armature and normally urging said valve into engagementwith said seat, energizing means for said magnetic means capable ofholding said armature in attracted position thereon but. incapable ofmoving said armature from valve closed position into attracted positionagainst the pressure of said secondary spring means, and resetting meansfor. manually moving said magnetic means into engagementlwith saidarmature against the pressure of said primary I33 and extends-upwardlythrough the gasket and into the port ll! communicating with the interiorIll 'oi a recess which opens outwardly through the attaching member I31to the hoilowconduit-ll8 leading to the pilot burner. The attachingmember III is secured to the housing II! by means of the cap screw llil,threaded to the side wall of the housing. The connection for the coil 26isprovided bythe conductor I.

which extends into metallic thimble m secured withinth'e insulatingbushing Ill and Joined to the conductor I extending to the thermocouplejunction by means of the coupling -member;'ll5. Suitable insulation 6extends about the conductor I, and into the attachingmember I31,.io'rming a continuation of the As far as the operation 'of the deviceor the energization of the coil 28 and the supply of fuel to thepilot'bumerare concerned, the mechaspring means whereby said valve ismoved to open position upon release of said resetting meanswhensaid-magnetic means is energized at the time of release of saidresetting means.

2. A control valve comprising a valve body having an inlet, an outlet,and an intermediate valve opening having a valve: seat, a movableelectromagnet comprising amagnet frame and a coil for energizing saidmagnet frame, a unitary armature and valve member means engageable withsaid seat to close communication between said inlet and said outlet andhaving movement relative said electromagnet, means for separating saidunitary armature and valve toward the valve seat and to position toengage nism shown in Figures -3 and 4 will operate in thesame mann'erasdescribed in connection with the operation thereof 7 is j deemednecessary. v i It is therefore believed apparent that I have providedanovel type of safety device, in which the magnetframe is reciprocallymounted in the housing for the safety device, and is moved downwardlyinto engagement with the valve member inorder to' pick up the valvemember when the magnet has been energized and move it into valve openposition. At the same time,'whenthe supply of fuel to'both the mainburner and the pilot. burner is automatically shut oiL'and when theresetting means is actuated. a limited offuelto the pilot burner isprovided member means from said electromagnet and for moving same intoengagement with said valve seat upon deenergization of saidelectromagnet, resetting means for moving said electromagnet of theapthe magnet frame with the armature portion of said unitary armatureand valve member means 'to pick up said armature and valve member meansfor movement with said electromagnet in the opposite direction when theelectromagnet ever thepilot flame is accidentally extinguished,

is energized, spring means for retracting said electromagnet away fromsaid seat and operable to move the armature and valve member meanstherewith to open the valve when said electromagnet is energized, aby-pass around said valve opening, a valve member controlling saidby-pass, and means for opening said last valve member by themovement ofsaid resetting means in enet frame of the electromasnet with thearmature portion of said unitary armature and valve member means.

3. In combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet. and anintermediatevalve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnetcomprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnetframe, aunitary armature and valve member means engageable with said seat toclose communication between said inlet and said outlet and havingmovement relative to said electromagnet, means for separating saidunitary armature and valve member means from said electromagnet andmoving same into env gagement with said valve seat upon deenerandextending-through the valve body and said hood.

4; In combination, a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and anintermediate valve opening having a valve seat, a movable electromagnetcomprising a magnet frame and a coil for energizing said magnet frame, aunitary armature and, valve member means engageable with said seal: toclose communication between said inlet and said outlet and havingmovement relative to said electromagnet, means for separating saidunitary armature and valve member means from said electromagnet andmoving same into engagement with said valve seat upon deenergization ofsaid electromagnet, resetting means for moving said electromagnet toposition to engage the magnet frame with the armature portion of saidunitary armature and valve member means, means for retracting theelectromagnet away from said seat and operable to move the armature andvalve member means therewith to openthe valve when said electromagnet isenergized, a hood on said valve body, a by-pass passage around saidvalve opening and extend-- ing through the valve body and said hood, avalve member controlling said by-pass passage, and means for openingsaid last valve member by the movement of said resetting means inengaging the magnet frame of .the electromagnet with the armatureportion of said unitary armature and valve member means.

5. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with saidvalve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnetmounted for movement relative to said valve seat, means for energizingsaid electromagnet,

means for separating the valve member from the electromagnet and formoving said valve member into engagement with the valve seat .upondeenergization of the electromagnet, means open position by the meansfor moving the.

a i 5 beer cooperable with said valve seat and provided with an armatureportion, and an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame and anenergizing coil therefor mounted for rectilinear movement toward andaway from said valve seat, said electromagnet having movement towardsaid valve seat and into position for cooperation with the armatureportion oisaid valve member adjacent the valve seat to pick up saidvalve member, and

inthe opposite direction, away from said valve seat to move said valvemember to open position when the magnet frame of said electromagnetis'energized by said coil.

7. In combination, a valve seat, a valve mem- -ber cooperable with saidvalve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnetcomprising a magnet frame and an energizin coil therefor mounted formovement relative to said valve seat, said electromagnet having move-.ment toward said valve seat and into cooperation with the armatureportion oi said valve member to pick up said valve member and, in theopposite direction, away from said valve seat to move said .valve membertherewith to open position when the magnet frame 0! said electromagnetis energized by said coil, and means for actu- I ating saidelectromagnet to position away from said seat and normally retaining theelectromagnet in said position.

8. In combination, a valve seat, a valve member cooperable with saidvalve seat and provided with an armature portion, an electromagnetcomprising a magnet frame andan energizing coil therefor mounted formovement relative to said valve seat, said electromagnet having movementtoward said valve seat and into cooperation with the armature portion ofsaid valve member to pick up said valve member and, in the oppositedirection, away from said valve seat to ove said valve member therewithto open position when the magnet frame of said electromagnet isenergized by said coil, means for actuating said electromagnettoposition away from said seat and normally retaining the electromagnet insaid position, and means for moving the valve member away from saidelectromagnet and into engagement with the valve seat upondeenergization of said electromagnet.

9. In combination, an enclosure, a reciprocatory reset stem extendingthrough a, wall of said enclosure and having its outer end exposedexternally of said enclosure-to be engaged manually and pressedinwardly, an electromagnet disposed within said enclosure and fixed onthe inner end of said reset stem for reciprocatory movement therewith, avalve seat, a valve member cooperable with said valve seat andprovidedwith an armature portion, said electromagnet being adapted bypressing said reset stern inwardly to be moved into cooperation with thearmature portion of said valve member to pick up said valve member andmovable in the opposite direction away from said valve seat to move saidvalve member therewith to open position when the electromagnet isenergized, and means for actuating said electromagnet to position awayfrom said seat and normally retaining the electromagnet in said positionand the reset stem in outwardly projected position.

10. In combination, an enclosure, a reciprocatory reset'stem extendingthrough a wall of said enclosure and having at its outer end anexternally exposed reset button, an electromagnet disposed within saidenclosure and fixed on the inner end of said reset stem forreciprocatory moveadaptedbypressinga'aldreoet-bnttoninwardlvtohemovedmtomationwiththearmatureportlonoi'saldvalvemunbertopick-up-said valvememberahdnovablein-theoppoaitedirecftionami'rolnsaiilvalve'aeattomovesaidvalvemember therewlthtoiopen position when the electromagnet is and springmeans interposedbetweensaidreoetbuttonandawalloisaidenclonirei'oracmatingsaidelectromag-'nettopodtionawaytromsaidseatandnormally' retainingtheinsaidpositionami-'t hereaetbuttoninontwardly ml fledposition, f 11.1ncmnbination,avalveseatga-valve mem- .bereoopera'blewithsaid valveseatandprovided Iwithersarmatureportion,ancom-v prising a magnet frame and an en r izincoil thenei'or mounted for rectilinear movement toavvay from said valveseat, said electromagnet having movement toward said valve seat and intoposition for cooperation with the amt- -ture portion or said valvemember adjacent the valve seat to pick up'said valvemember and in theopposite direction away from said valve seat to move'aaid valve memberto open position when =7 reaetatembeingilxedtothemagnetirameoi'saidelectromagnetisenervgized'b'ysaidcomanenclosuremndarecipmfitoryresetstemextendingthroughawalloisaid enclosureandhavingitaouterendexposedexoi-said enclosure to'be engagedmanuallyandpresaed inwardly. the inner end ot'said themagnet framewithinaaidenclosureJ a HAROLD A. MAN'IZ.

